A Comparative Study of the Prospective Solar Cells for NPSAT1

Abstract

The Naval Postgraduate School's next satellite to be launched will be the technology demonstration experiment NPSAT1 in 2006, This satellite will be laden with some of the school's top research projects including on orbit solar cell I-V curve testing. The designers of this satellite were presented with three types of solar cells with which to power their satellite: silicon, gallium arsenide, and triple junction cells. This thesis evaluates those three types of cells on the merits of their advertised and tested efficiency, cost, performance, and reaction to radiation experiments. Although the triple junction cells have already been selected to provide solar power to the onboard experiments, the background justification for such cells is warranted.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 27, 2002
Accession Number
ADA407099

Entities

People

  • Sherri R. Mitchell

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Cells
  • Efficiency
  • Elements
  • Energy
  • Gallium Arsenides
  • Linear Accelerators
  • Lithium Ion Batteries
  • Operating Systems
  • Radiation
  • Solar Cells
  • Solar Energy
  • Solar Panels
  • Solar Radiation
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • United States Naval Academy

Readers

  • Semiconductor Device Technology
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites